Written by a Verified Human

Today I got a notification from Zomato (my best friend, my worst enemy). It said 'AI this, AI that, why not order a dosAI" I laughed!

This should tell you that this write-up isn't going to technically or philosophically dig into the impacts of AI, and it's all you need to know before continuing.

ChatGPT has become a household name practically overnight. Just a couple of years back, in 2023 maybe, we were all clueless about its existence. Now, my 4-year-old asks me if I know what AI stands for and goes on to tell me it is Artificial Intelligence. (This, coming from a child whose real intelligence is still at a stage where he thinks taller people are older)

I should be worried. I am a writer and an artist and those are the fields in which AI has made great strides. But then, I am 100% human. I can switch to an easy distraction rather than face a problem, so here we are!

People around me, my family especially, have taken to AI effortlessly. My brother (Tech Nerd) used it to create a comic strip featuring his kids as the protagonist — proper graphic art with exotic locations and Gods and Demons. Our minds were blown! 

My father, on the other hand, wanted to celebrate the Margazhi season by sending Pasurams with explanations and pictures. He was appreciative of the information he found, but try as he may, he couldn't convince AI that Vishnu does not carry a Sulam! 

He took it in his stride though, unlike my husband, who made it a point to tell Chat GPT that each iteration of the image he wanted was 'stupider and stupider' (his exact words). 

We all know how this will end. The robots are going to get him first. I'll be fine because I say please and thank you and even throw in an appreciation now and then!

The truth remains that Chat GPT is somehow completely incompetent when it comes to pictures. 

My kids’ class teacher wanted to create a poster for a treasure hunt activity. Having told CGPT what she wanted, she received a pic that included a treasure chest, but also a skull. She felt it was inappropriate and asked for one without it. Didn't work. 

Then she came to me. I, with my prompting skills (and good manners), tried again. For my effort, I got two additional skulls. After this, I just gave it up as a bad job and used other photo editing tools to erase them. In the end, it took the skill of the high-schooler who had learned to photoshop herself with Harry Potter. 

Coming back to the family WhatsApp group, my sister, perhaps, came up with the most practical use. She apparently details what she has in her fridge and the calories she wants to consume, and Chat GPT tells her what she can make! 

I usually use my mom for this. 

She'll disregard the calorie count, suggest recipes, convince me to go out and buy a few more things, point out where I might go wrong, and even say "In your cooker, you might want to leave it for two extra whistles." 

This also brought to mind a popular post on social media. The one about how it would be great if AI could do dishes and laundry and we could work on art and poetry. 

That would be ideal. But laundry isn't easy! Can the system learn to consider all the multiple factors - expensive clothes, color may bleed, child is emotionally attached, need this for tomorrow because these are the only pants that fit, can't dry them outside because rain, can't dry them inside because smell - in a fraction of a second like I can? 

How can AI replace humans unless they develop our beliefs, fears, and insecurities? Isn't that what comes out as art? 

I don't have the answers, nor do I have the in-depth knowledge of this subject to arrive at them.

Despite all this, AI has my love. It saves me from opening multiple tabs to get information. It gives me a base to build on. It is also sometimes the Abhirami to my Guna, taking my words and making kavithais out of it!

It could have even written this post. But, poor thing, I don't think it's developed enough to be self-deprecating. 

So, I wrote this myself.